UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan

Temple

Yakushi-ji

Seventh-century Buddhist temple in Nara, built in Chinese style and ranked among the Seven Great Temples, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nara

Temple

Tōdai-ji

Established in 738, this Nara temple houses the largest bronze Buddha statue and serves as headquarters of the Kegon Buddhist school.

Nara

Museum

Sannai-Maruyama Site

This site preserves Japan's largest Jōmon settlement across 40 hectares, with a reconstructed six-pillared structure dating to around 2600 BC and UNESCO World Heritage status.

Aomori

Historic Site

Temple

Yakushi-ji

Seventh-century Buddhist temple in Nara, built in Chinese style and ranked among the Seven Great Temples, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nara

Temple

Tōdai-ji

Established in 738, this Nara temple houses the largest bronze Buddha statue and serves as headquarters of the Kegon Buddhist school.

Nara

Museum

Sannai-Maruyama Site

This site preserves Japan's largest Jōmon settlement across 40 hectares, with a reconstructed six-pillared structure dating to around 2600 BC and UNESCO World Heritage status.

Aomori

Historic Site

Heijō Palace Ruins

Imperial residence and administrative center during the Nara period (710-794), designed after Chinese models and reconstructed from excavations.

Nara

Temple

Daigo-ji Temple

Over 1,100-year-old Buddhist temple complex and head temple of the Daigo branch of Shingon Buddhism, centered on an ancient natural spring.

Kyoto

Temple

Shokoku-ji

Fourteenth-century Zen temple in Kyoto founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, featuring traditional gardens, rock gardens and renowned sub-temples.

Kyoto

Temple

Kōfuku-ji

Eighth-century Buddhist temple in Nara, chief sanctuary of the Fujiwara clan and one of Japan's Seven Great Temples, featuring historic pagodas.

Nara

Temple

Kiyomizu-dera

Buddhist temple on a Kyoto hillside featuring a cantilevered wooden stage, UNESCO World Heritage site with treasured religious artifacts.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Goshono Ruins

A UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2021 as part of a collective listing encompassing 17 Jomon archaeological sites across four northern prefectures.

Ichinohe · Iwate

Museum

Atomic Bomb Dome

The remains of the Industrial Promotion Hall near ground zero from the August 6, 1945 atomic bombing, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

Hiroshima

Temple

Mōtsū-ji

Buddhist temple from the 12th century, renowned for its gold-leaf decorated hall and picturesque pond garden in the finest Heian-era style.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

National Park

Shiretoko National Park

UNESCO World Heritage site on Hokkaido's remote peninsula with steep cliffs, ancient forests, and wildlife including brown bears and sea eagles.

Shari · Hokkaido

Shrine

Nikko Tosho-gu

Shinto shrine established 1617 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun who ended the Sengoku period and founded 260 years of Edo peace.

Nikko · Tochigi

Shrine

Futarasan Shrine

Guardian shrine of Nikko from the 8th century, honoring three family deities and a prominent figure in mythology revered for love and matchmaking.

Nikko · Tochigi

Temple

Ginkaku-ji

Zen temple from the late 15th century with a garden of sand and stone featuring a pond, inspired by but never covered with silver like Kinkaku-ji.

Kyoto

Temple

Rinnoji Temple

Rinnoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Nikko and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Sanbutsudo hall and the National Treasure Taiyuin mausoleum.

Nikko · Tochigi

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